Healthy Holidays and Sparkling Smiles

MISSION, KS -- (Marketwired) -- 11/11/14 -- (Family Features) Tis the season for holiday feasts, but making smart food choices and stepping up your oral hygiene routine can help you have a healthy, holiday season and a fresh, bright smile.

Oral health is a growing concern for American adults. For adults over 30, over 47% have serious gum problems, with almost 1 in 10 (8.5%) living with the most severe form of gum disease(1). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that people with diabetes are twice as likely to develop serious gum problems. In fact, 1 in 3 adults living with diabetes also suffers from the most severe form of gum disease(2).

"People living with diabetes already know that small steps -- like avoiding fried foods and increasing exercise -- can make a big difference in personal health over time, and prioritizing your oral health is one of those steps," said Dr. Natalie Strand of Freedom Pain Hospital, Colgate spokesperson and co-author of the new book A Woman's Guide to Diabetes: A Path to Wellness, which is being published by the American Diabetes Association.

Whether you're a diabetes patient, pre-diabetic or simply committed to protecting your overall health, following some smart tips during the holidays can help keep you, and your smile, healthy so you can enjoy all the season has to offer.

Lighten Up... Your Food: Avoid those culinary temptations around the holiday table by bringing your own lighter options or ask the host in advance to consider your dietary needs/constraints. Limit fried and sugary desserts and instead load up on fiber-rich choices like whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits with the skin on.

Prioritize Oral Health: This season of rich eats and sugary drinks can be hard on your teeth and gums, so brushing and flossing regularly are as important as ever. Brushing twice daily with Colgate Total toothpaste is a simple step you can take to help improve gum health in as little as 4 weeks(3). It is the only FDA-approved(4) toothpaste to help prevent gingivitis, the most common form of gum disease.

Manage stress: It's common to turn to food for comfort when tension and anxiety levels rise, as they often do during the holidays. Get plenty of sleep, exercise regularly and practice relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation to help keep stress at bay.

Visit the Dentist: Make your dental appointment before the holidays really begin in full force. A regular check-up every six months is the best way to keep tabs on your oral health and help prevent common oral problems before they progress.

Get Creative with Exercise: Combine exercise with social activities such as walking around the neighborhood with your family and discovering new places or ice skating with your family. There are other ways to sneak in activity too, such as an extra spin around the dance floor at your company holiday party. Aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least five days a week.

About Family Features Editorial SyndicateThis and other food and lifestyle content can be found at www.editors.familyfeatures.com. Family Features is a leading provider of free food and lifestyle content for use in print and online publications. Register with no obligation to access a variety of formatted and unformatted features, accompanying photos, and automatically updating Web content solutions.

(1) Eke et al. Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the US:2009 and 2010. J Dent Res 91:914-920, 2012.
(2) CDC, National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2011: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf
(3) vs. Non-antibacterial fluoride toothpaste, results improve with continued twice daily use, as shown in 6 month clinical studies of the general population.
(4) Colgate Total® toothpaste is approved through the New Drug Application process to help prevent plaque, gingivitis, and cavities. Not approved for the prevention or treatment of serious gum disease or other diseases.

Cloud Expo

Cloud Computing & All That
It Touches In One Location Cloud Computing - Big Data - Internet of Things
SDDC - WebRTC - DevOps
Cloud computing is become a norm within enterprise IT.

The competition among public cloud providers is red hot, private cloud continues to grab increasing shares of IT budgets, and hybrid cloud strategies are beginning to conquer the enterprise IT world.

Big Data is driving dramatic leaps in resource requirements and capabilities, and now the Internet of Things promises an exponential leap in the size of the Internet and Worldwide Web.

The world of SDX now encompasses Software-Defined Data Centers (SDDCs) as the technology world prepares for the Zettabyte Age.

Add the key topics of WebRTC and DevOps into the mix, and you have three days of pure cloud computing that you simply cannot miss.

Delegates will leave Cloud Expo with dramatically increased understanding the entire scope of the entire cloud computing spectrum from storage to security.

Cloud Expo - the world's most established event - offers a vast selection of 130+ technical and strategic Industry Keynotes, General Sessions, Breakout Sessions, and signature Power Panels. The exhibition floor features 100+ exhibitors offering specific solutions and comprehensive strategies. The floor also features two Demo Theaters that give delegates the opportunity to get even closer to the technology they want to see and the people who offer it.

Attend Cloud Expo. Craft your own custom experience. Learn the latest from the world's best technologists. Find the vendors you want and put them to the test.